ionic imbalance, what's the worst that can happen?

[coit]

Someone asked why exactly they need to mix magnesium chloride and magnesium sulphate together yesterday and I found myself kind of reaching for a good answer. At least as far as I remember - you can do some stuff that isn't so great for a tank like decouple how specific gravity relates to actual salinity. But as with most tank chemistry things these are just rules and bits of information I half remember than stuff I understand as a chemist would.

What's the worst that can happen? Other than getting a buildup of chloride or sulphates in the tank (which again maybe beg their own 'and what happens then?' :D). Something bad? :D

[bertoni]

We don't know what might happen as the ionic balance shifts. I tend to err on the side of caution, so I use magnesium chloride and magnesium sulfate to help keep the chloride and sulfate ratio in line with nature.

[coit]

Oh yeah, I have no intention of finding out - I mean, not deliberately anyway. But I was just wondering if there is any collection of research on lethal doses over time, or reproductive health effects, etc, on fish or inverts exposed to it.

[bertoni]

I doubt it very much, unless the situation shows up in nature.

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

I've never seen anyone study it. Could be no noticeable effect at all until it is very skewed. :)

[Reefvet]

Could be no noticeable effect at all until it is very skewed. :)

And a very small ecosystem like a reef tank would probably be the easiest place to get to 'very skewed' sooner than later.